Apparatus for cutting a leaf of predetermined shape out of a tobacco leaf



June 1965 H. J. MAAS ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A LEAF OF PREDETERMINED SHAPE OUT OF A TOBACCOLEAF Filed March 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS BY fiMwM ATTORNEYSH. J. MAAS ETAL 3,191,473 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A LEAF OF PREDE'IERMINEDSHAPE OUT OF A TOBACCO LEAF Filed March 2, 1964 2 Sh eets-Sheet 2- June29, I965 PIC-3.6

INVENTORS L E a A P AL A M A I G u mm RT NR E A M BY v- ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3 Claims. to]. 83-98) The invention relates to anapparatus for cutting a leaf of predetermined shape out of a tobaccoleaf, comprising a cutting die provided with a band-shaped knife bent insaid shape and having an upstanding cutting edge, rollers adapted to bemoved over the cutting edge of said knife and to press the leaf to becut out onto said cutting edge, guiding cams associated with said knifefor said rollers and a closable pneumatic device to remove by means ofan air blast the leaf parts left on the cutting disc after the cuttingprocess.

Before a next leaf can be laid onto the cutting die the cuttings of theprevious leaf must be removed. To that end the cutting die of aknownmachine is moved under the mouth of a suction tube which sucks the leafcuttings away. This known machine is involved and it has appeared, thatwhen stationary cutting dies are used the suction device which must bemade movable requires much room, is complicated and decreases the speedof the machine.

The invention has the object to accelerate and to simplify theremovement of the leaf parts left on the cutting die so that the cuttingapparatus can be operated with a greater speed. This is obtained in thatthe pneumatic device consists of a stationary blow-pipe directed to theupper surface of the cutting die and adapted to be connected to aconduit for the supply of compressed air and of blow-passages directedupwards and discharging in the immediate vicinity of or in the guidingsurfaces of said cams, said blow-passages being also adapted to beconnected to said compressed air conduit. The upwards directedblow-passages serve to blow the rest portions of the leaf pressed by therollers on the guiding cams and sticking thereon free from said cams sothat they can be blown laterally away by the stationary blow-pipe.

In order to collect the leaf parts blown from the cutting die it isadvantageous to use a device which is provided with a screen positionedin the air blast of the blow-pipe beyond the cutting die and above adischarge opening, at least a part of said screen being formed as alattice. The lattice-shaped part of said screen may consist of a numberof vertical rods. The lattice-shaped screen prevents that the blast ofair is reflected by the collecting device whereby the leaf parts blownaway would be returned to the cutting apparatus or to other places inthe machine.

The invention will be elucidated with the aid of the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates by way of example some embodiments of theinvention diagrammatically. In the drawing is:

FIG. 1 a plan view of a portion of a cigar wrapping machine providedwith a cutting die, rollers cooperating therewith and a movable leafholder and also provided with a blowing device and a collecting deviceaccording to the invention for the leaf parts left on the die.

FIG. 2 an elevational view of a portion of the apparatus according toFIG. 1, in which the leaf holder has another position, and seen in thedirection of the arrow p and as a section taken on the line 11-11 inFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 on another scale a plan view of a cutting die 3,191,473 PatentedJune 29, 1965 provided with guiding cams, rollers cooperating with saiddie and a blowing device,

FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale a plan view of a portion of the cutting dieshown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 a sectional view taken on the line V-V in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 afront view of a portion of the cutting die shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, afterthe hood thereof has been removed.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing 1 is the rolling table of a cigarwrapping machine, 2 is a cutting die of usual form for cutting a leaf ofpredetermined shape out of a tobacco leaf, 3 is a set of rollers mountedin a frame and adapted to be moved over the cutting edge of the knife, 4is a blow-pipe, 5 is a leaf holder carried by a conveyor arm 7mountedfor swinging about an axis 6, said leaf holder being adapted tobe swung to and fro between the cutting die 2. and the rolling table 1,8 is a vertical collecting screen, 9 is a lattice-shaped portion of saidcollecting screen consisting of vertical smooth rods and 10 is anopening made in the table of the machine and used for the discharge ofthe rest portions of the leaf.

A piece of tobacco leaf is laid onto the cutting die by the operator ofthe machine, whereafter the rollers 3 are i moved over the cutting edgeof the knife of the cutting die, so that a leaf of the required shape iscut out of said piece of tobacco leaf. Thereupon the leaf holder 5 isswung over the cutting die and the cut out leaf is taken up and isbrought to the rolling table 1 by the leaf holder 5. As soon as the leafholder 5 has left the cutting die 2 a blast of compressed air isautomatically produced by the blow-pipe 4 and a strong current of air isblown over the cutting die. The leaf portions left on the cutting dieafter the cutting-out operation are thereby blown away and thrownagainst the rods of the lattice-shaped part 9 of the screen 8. After theblow-pipe 4 has been closed again, said leaf parts fall along thelattice rods 9 into the discharge opening 10, under which a trough or abag is mounted (not shown). A valve 11 is provided in the conduitconnected to the blow-pipe 4 and is opened a short time by the drivingmechanism of the machine just after the cut-out leaf has been taken awayby the leaf holder. However, the operator is able to keep said valveclosed, for instance by means of a pedal. This is necessary, when theleaf portion left on the cutting die 2 is sufliciently large to furnisha second leaf of the required shape. In that case the rest portion ofthe tobacco leaf may not be blown away and the blow-pipe may not be setinto operation.

In FIGS. 4-7 the cutting die and its accessories are. indicated moreclearly. This cutting die is provided with a hood 13, within which thebandshaped knife 14 having an upstanding cutting edge is positioned. Therollers 15 are adapted to be reciprocated over the cutting edge of theknife 14. These rollers press the tobacco leaf laid on the cutting dieonto the knife 14, so that a leaf of the desired shape is cut out. Onthe spots, where the rollers come upon the knife 14 or leave said knife,guiding cams 16 are associated with the knife band. Provided in the hood13 and in the table-shaped member 17 contained within the knife 14 aresuction apertures 18, by which a tobacco leaf laid onto the cutting dieis held by suction during the cutting process.

If a tobacco leaf is laid onto the cutting die and the rollers 15 arethereafter moved over the cutting edge of the knife 14 so that a leaf ofthe required shape is cut out, it may occur that the tobacco leaf ispressed strongly onto the guiding cams 16 so that it is flattened and itstays stuck on said cams. In that case some of the leaf parts left afterthe cutting operation on the cutting die 3 can only be swept away byhand. In order to prevent this, upwards directed blow passages areprovided in the vicinity of said guiding cams. Thereby the rest portionsof the leaf sticking to said cams are blown both upwards and inhorizontal direction. To blow the leaf parts sticking to the guidingcams upwards an upwards directed U-shaped blowing nozzle 20 straddleseach cam 16. These nozzles are also connected to the conduit 21 for thesupply of compressed air to the blow-pipe 19. As soon as the cut-outleaf has been removed from the cutting die a blast of compressed air issupplied to the blow-pipe 19 and the nozzles 20, so that the leaf partsleft on the cutting die are blown upwards on the spots of the guidingearns 16 and thereupon blown away in horizontal direction. Also in thiscase a separately operable valve is provided in the common compressedair conduit.

Due to the pneumatic removement of the rest portions of the leaf fromthe cutting die, it is possible to free the die earlier and to cover itwith the next piece of tobacco leaf sooner. Therefore, the operatorswork is easier and faster since his hands are free earlier to seize thenext piece of tobacco leaf. Thereby the capacity of the wrapping machinecan be increased and the machine may be operated by less skilledpersonnel.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cutting a leaf of predetermined shape out of atobacco leaf, comprising a cutting die, a band-shaped knife bentin saidshape and having an upstanding cutting edge, said knife forming part ofsaid die, rollers adapted to be moved over the cutting edge of saidknife and to press the leaf to be cut out onto said cutting edge,guiding cams associated with said knife for guiding the rollers, astationary blow-pipe directed to the upper surface of the cutting die,blow-passages directed upwards and discharging in the immediate vicinityof the guiding surfaces of said cams and a controllable valve, throughwhich said blow-pipe and said blow-passages are connected to acompressed air conduit, said blow-pipe and said blow-passages formingpart of, apneumatic device to blow away the leaf parts left on saidcutting die after a leaf has been cut out and taken away from said die.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a discharge openingfor the discharge of the leaf parts blown away from the cutting die bysaid blow-pipe and a screen positioned above said discharge opening andin the current of air produced by said blow-pipe, at least a portion ofsaid screen being formed as a lattice, said discharge opening and saidscreen forming part of a device for collecting the leaf parts blown awayfrom the cutting die.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the lattice shaped partof the screen consists of a number of vertical rods.

No references cited.

ANDREW R. JUHAszPrimm- Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A LEAF OF PREDETERMINED SHAPE OUT OF ATOBACCO LEAF, COMPRISING A CUTTING DIE, A BAND-SHAPED KNIFE BENT IN SAIDSHAPE AND HAVING AN UPSTANDING CUTTING EDGE, SAID KNIFE FORMING PART OFSAID DIE, ROLLERS ADAPTED TO BE MOVED OVER THE CUTTING EDGE OF SAIDKNIFE AND TO PRESS THE LEAF TO BE CUT OUT ONTO SAID CUTTING EDGE,GUIDING CAMS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID KNIFE FOR GUIDING THE ROLLERS, ASTATIONARY BELOW-PIPE DIRECTED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE CUTTING DIE,BLOW-PASSAGE DIRECTED